At the end of the day, I think the 20/80 rule still applies; as somebody had mentioned before.

The Texans currently have 14 guys earning close to $3M average a year (including Watt whose contract was close to $12M over 4 years) or more - with Watt at the bottom of that list.

Unless they cut/trade one of them (W. Smith, A. smith, Walter), they will have problem offering Quin and/or Barwin much.

But if they cut one of those guys, they still need to find replacement just the same. It's just a matter whom they think belong to the core player group; and then they will just have to fill the rest of the roster with whomever they can get.